Apr 28, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal scored by forward Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period against the Anaheim Ducksin game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Perry Nelson/Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
EDMONTON, Alberta — Leon Draisaitl scored a pair of goals and Evan Bouchard chipped in with three assists as the Edmonton Oilers staved off elimination by beating the Anaheim Ducks 4-1.
The Oilers now trail the best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series 3-2 with Game 6 in Anaheim.
Vasily Podkolzin and Zach Hyman also scored for the Oilers who previously had allowed six separate leads to slip away in the first four games of the series.
Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had a pair of assists. Edmonton is now 18-3 when scoring first in a game when facing elimination.
Alex Killorn scored for the Ducks.
Connor Ingram made 29 stops for Edmonton, while Ville Husso recorded 10 saves for Anaheim after coming in to relieve Lukas Dostal, who allowed three goals on nine shots.
For the fifth straight game the Oilers struck first, scoring on the game’s first shot just 2:22 into the contest as Podkolzin beat Dostal high for his second of the postseason.
Edmonton took a 2-0 lead 8:33 into the opening period as a point shot was deflected twice, the second time through Dostal’s legs by Hyman.
The Oilers took a 3-0 lead just 1:14 later as Draisaitl tipped Bouchard’s point shot in for his second of the playoffs. That spelled an early end of the night for Dostal.
Anaheim got on the board on the power play 8:26 into the second period as Mason McTavish dropped it back to Killorn, who extended his points streak to four games with his third goal of the playoffs.
Edmonton responded with a power-play goal a couple of minutes later on a one-timer by Draisaitl, who tied Wayne Gretzky for the most postseason power-play goals in franchise history at 23.
Edmonton has played the most playoff games of any NHL team since 2022 with 80, two more than the Florida Panthers, who beat the Oilers in the last two Stanley Cup finals before failing to qualify this season.
Playing in his 80th career playoff game, Bouchard collected his 88th point, moving into a tie for third place for players through 80 games with Brian Leetch, behind only Bobby Orr (92) and Paul Coffey (92).
McDavid (63 points) passed Adam Oates for the second-most points in NHL history when trailing in a playoff series. Only Gretzky (80) has more.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 17: Zack Littell #18 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park on April 17, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the third straight start, Zack Littell allowed 8 runs last night. Littell, who was brought in to stabilize the Nats rotation, has been a total liability so far. The home runs are out of control, and there is not a single pitch in Littell’s arsenal that is fooling anybody.
It has gotten to the point where I do not think Littell should make his scheduled start. However, I still think Littell deserves more time before the team totally cuts bait. After all, Litell has a recent track record of success. Between 2024 and 2025, Littell posted a 3.73 ERA across 343 innings. I do think Littell needs a re-set though, whether that is skipping his next start or putting him on the IL.
Littell just can’t make his next start. Seems like a good guy, but it is just not good enough. Whether it is a DFA or an IL stint, something is needed. This is not the same guy as the pitcher he was the past couple years
Littell signed in the middle of Spring Training, which could explain some of his struggles. He did not have a normal offseason, where he could build up properly. Littell was staying ready and preparing as much as he could, but it is not the same as the real thing. We have seen pitchers struggle after signing later in the offseason a lot over the past few years. Jordan Montgomery is an example that stands out.
An IL stint would be a helpful way to help build up Littell. You could put him on a rehab assignment where he can figure things out in a lower stakes environment. Hopefully that can help him rediscover the magic he had in 2024 and 2024.
It is also worth noting that Littell was likely due for some regression anyways. While he posted a 3.81 ERA last year, his FIP was less convincing, at 4.88 and his xFIP was 4.35. That is likely one of the reasons why it took Littell so long to get a contract in the offseason.
I figured that Littell could regress, and be a guy who posts an ERA in the low to mid 4’s. However, an innings eater who posts an ERA around 4.40 is still pretty valuable, especially for a rebuilding team that needs innings. I could have never imagined that it would be this bad.
Littell has always been prone to the long ball. He allowed 36 last year, which was the second most in the league behind Jake Irvin. Littell survived that by not allowing many baserunners, and not walking anybody. However, the home run numbers have ballooned to an untenable number this year. He has allowed 13 homers, and the next closest pitcher has only allowed 9. It is only the 8th time in MLB history that a pitcher has allowed 13 homers in their first 6 outings.
This is the eighth time in MLB history that a player has allowed at least 13 homers through their first six appearances of the season. Those who did it before, via a Stathead search. pic.twitter.com/I0Hh1VD7ki
Littell is allowing 4.08 home runs per nine innings right now. That is almost a homer every other inning. He is allowing dingers at an historic rate, and it is just making his outings non-competitive. Miles Mikolas drew the ire of Nats fans early in the season, but he has settled in with the Nats using him in a new role. Littell just seems to be getting worse every outing.
Right now, he is a righty who throws in the low-90’s, with no stand out secondary pitches and lackluster command. For MLB hitters, that is just batting practice. Again, I do not want to cut bait yet, but he should not make his next start.
Littell’s splitter and 4-seamer worked well for him last year, but they have been destroyed this year, especially the fastball. His fastball has generated an insane -13 run value this season, after being +5 last year. The pitch, which has lost nearly a tick of velocity, is not fooling hitters like Juan Soto.
Juan Soto hits his first homer since returning from the IL
I want it to work out for Littell. He was very good for two straight years, yet did not get the contract he was looking for this offseason. Now, on a one-year prove it deal, he is totally stinking it up. That must be a brutal feeling for him. Zack Littell is not this bad of a pitcher.
However, the Nats need to do something about this sooner rather than later. Right now, it is just an automatic loss with Littell on the mound. He has a 7.85 ERA and the underlying metrics are even worse. Usually when you have an ERA that high, there is reason to believe there will be regression to the mean. That hope is not there for Littell.
You just have to start with scratch and just totally rebuild how he is pitching and what pitches he is using. That is tough to do in the middle of a season, but that is where we are right now. Skipping a start or putting Littell on the IL seems like something the team has to do. Cutting him right now would be foolish due to his track record, but my stance on that could change if he keeps pitching this poorly.
“What a crazy but cool moment!! Thank you all for singing along,” Clune, a finalist on Season 19 of “The Voice,” wrote on Instagram.
“We have the best fans ever!” she added in a separate message.
With Buffalo situated right near the Canadian border, the Canadian national anthem is always sung before Sabres games in addition to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” even if the visiting team is not based in Canada.
Sabres anthem singer Cami Clune looks at the microphone as it cuts out during “O Canada” on April 28, 2026. X/Sportsnet
“And this is the sole reason I know the Canadian national anthem by ,” tennis star Jessica Pegula, the daughter of Sabres owner Terry Pegula, wrote on X in response to video of the moment, using a heart-hands emoji to indicate she knows the song by heart.
Sabres fans have finally had something to cheer about this season as they snapped a 14-year playoff drought, winning 50 games en route to an Atlantic Division title.
Things did not go their way Tuesday night with a chance to advance, however, as they fell to the Bruins 2-1 in overtime. Buffalo leads the first-round series 3-2 with Game 6 set for Friday night in Boston.
Rasmus Dahlin’s power-play goal 3:35 into the first period gave the Sabres 1-0 lead. Elias Lindholm tied it for the Bruins in the second period.
David Pastrnak scored the winner 9:14 into overtime to keep Boston’s season alive.
Buffalo hasn’t won a playoff series in 19 years. They reached their second consecutive Eastern Conference Final in 2007 after defeating the Islanders and Rangers in the first and second rounds, respectively, before losing to the Senators in five games.
Apr 28, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) takes a shot on goal during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Timothy T. Ludwig/Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
BUFFALO, N.Y. — When Hampus Lindholm got the puck inside Boston’s blue line after teammate Fraser Minten broke up the Buffalo Sabres’ rush, and the Bruins defenseman knew immediately who to look for.
Sure enough, there was David Pastrnak already heading toward Buffalo’s zone.
Set up by Lindholm, Pastrnak scored on a breakaway 9:14 into overtime, and the Bruins avoided elimination with a 2-1 win in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.
“He’s pretty special when it comes to those opportunities, too, so it was fun to see it go in,” Lindholm said.
Pastrnak said the chemistry he has with Lindholm is a result of them being neighbors.
“We always call it the neighbor connection,” Pastrnak said. “Seems like anytime he has the puck and I have an opening, I have the confidence that he’s gonna find me.”
The series shifts back to Boston for Game 6, with Buffalo still seeking to clinch its first playoff series victory since eliminating the New York Rangers in six games of a 2007 second-round series. The Sabres are in the playoffs only for the third time since, and after snapping an NHL record 14-season playoff drought this year.
Elias Lindholm also scored for Boston which overcame a 1-0 deficit. Jeremy Swayman stopped 25 shots, including foiling Jason Zucker set up in front 3:30 into the extra period.
Rasmus Dahlin scored for Buffalo and Alex Lyon stopped 27 shots.
“He’s always lurking,” Lyon said of Pastrnak, whom the goalie robbed on several chances. “Obviously, he’s one of the best players in the league,” Lyon added of a player who reached the 100-point mark for a fourth straight season. “It’s just one play at the end from a really good player. That’s usually how these things go. And now it’s just incumbent on us to move forward.”
The Sabres were caught up ice, and the Bruins jumped into making a line change, with Pastrnak coming off the bench as the turnover occurred.
Accepting Lindholm’s pass in stride as he crossed Buffalo’s blue line, Pastrnak drove in on net a step ahead of Buffalo’s Mattias Samuelsson. He faked cutting across the front and nearly lost his balance before slipping the puck inside the right post.
“He always gets it done. And what a nice finish from him,” coach Marco Sturm said of the 12th-year player. “I’m just very happy because this guy puts a lot of pressure on himself and he wants to be the difference. And today he was.”
The goal was the 41st of Pastrnak’s playoff career, and second in overtime. He scored Boston’s last overtime goal, also coming in an elimination game, to seal the Bruins’ 2-1 win over Toronto in Game 7 of their 2024 first-round series.
Lindholm tied it 9:24 into the second period after his bad-angle shot bounced into the slot. Lindholm got to the loose puck first and, with his back to the net, spun around and fired in a low shot through a crowd.
Dahlin opened the scoring at 3:35 with his first playoff goal, and Buffalo’s first power-play goal in nearly a month. Driving up the left wing, Zucker’s initial pass attempt was blocked before recovering the puck and feeding Dahlin for a one-timer in the right circle.
The Sabres had gone 0-of-17 with the man advantage this series, and entered the playoffs failing to convert 22 straight chances, dating to a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders on March 31.
The Bruins played without second-line forward Viktor Arvidsson, who was hurt in the first period of Game 4.
Buffalo lost rookie forward Noah Ostlund to a lower-body injury in the first period.
Coach Lindy Ruff didn’t reveal what the injury was, but said, “it doesn’t look good.” Ostlund had just returned to the lineup from an upper-body injury in Game 3, in which he had a goal and assist.
The Bruins have won back-to-back outings in Buffalo after squandering a 2-0 lead in the final 7:58 of a 4-3 loss in Game 1. The Sabres won both outings in Buffalo, and were coming off a 6-1 win.
“We’re in a good spot. We should be ready for the next one,” Dahlin said. “It’s a tight game and stuff happens, so we’re ready for going to Boston.”
Another night, another loaded slate on the ice, and my NHL player props have you covered for all three games on Wednesday, April 29.
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy headlines my NHL picks in a pivotal Game 5 tilt against the Montreal Canadiens to begin tonight’s action.
Best NHL player prop bets today
Player
Vasilevskiy Over 22.5 saves
-105
Drysdale Over 1.5 shots on goal
-110
Sergachev Over 1.5 shots on goal
-140
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Our best NHL player props for Wednesday, April 29
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Andrei Vasilevskiy Over 22.5 saves
-105 at BET99
The Montreal Canadiens being held to just 18 shots on home ice in Game 4 is bulletin-board material if you ask me, so I’m fully expecting a heightened emphasis from the Habs to shoot more tonight. Especially considering Montreal has attempted the fewest shots per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 this postseason.
So, while we haven’t seen the best from Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy yet, he sports a .917 save percentage across 124 postseason games and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2021.
Drysdale’s 22 shot attempts for the series also rank third on the Flyers, and he quarterbacks the No. 2 power-play unit while averaging a healthy 20:15 of ice time per game.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: TNT, Sportsnet 360
Prop #3: Mikhail Sergachev Over 1.5 shots on goal
-140 at BET99
Utah Mammoth No. 1 defenseman Mikhail Sergachev is living on the ice, with a series-high 104:27 logged, and he’s second on the club in shot attempts with 22. So, when I saw that the Russian blueliner has only converted three into shots on goal (13.6%), this was an easy click.
Sergachev recorded two or more SOG in 47 of his 78 regular-season games, while converting his attempts into shots at a 43.3% rate.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 28: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — To say that Tuesday’s Game 5 between the Celtics and 76ers was ugly is a massive understatement.
The Celtics missed 14 consecutive field goals to close out the game, got outscored by 17 points in the fourth quarter, and watched their own fans file out with several minutes left in the ball game.
A series that appeared over early in the third quarter was suddenly headed back to Philadelphia, with most of the momentum on the 76ers’ side.
And, Joel Embiid lookes eager to deliver to turn the season around; he exploded for 33 points in Game 5, 18 of which came in the second half on 7-10 shooting.
“Give him credit, he played well,” Jayson Tatum said. “He put a lot of pressure on us especially on the defensive end. We’ll go back and watch the film and make some adjustments and be ready for Game 6.”
Philadelphia is 0-2 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in these playoffs, and will be desperate (and fully healthy) when they host Game 6 on Thursday night.
“Our fans deserve a win at home,” Tyrese Maxey said after the 76ers’ 113-97 defeat over the Celtics.
The question is: will the Celtics allow it?
On Tuesday, Boston didn’t play with the attention to detail required to put away a good team on the brink of elimination. They led by 13 points with 10 minutes to play in the third quarter, but were outscored 63-26 the rest of the way.
“I thought we had a decent first half,” Payton Pritchard said. “I just think we were just a little lackadaisical at times when we could have put them away. We just messed around with the game. And when you have a team on the brink of elimination, you’ve really got to put your foot on the gas and finish it. I thought we’d let them have life at times that they didn’t need to.”
Jaylen Brown, who went 0-6 from the field in the fourth quarter, acknowledged the Celtics had to deal with adversity with better than they did. Outside of Sam Hauser, who went 2-3 from three in the fourth, the rest of the Celtics roster combined to shoot 1-19 from the field in the period.
Sean Grande, the Celtics’ play-by-play radio broadcaster, broke down why Tuesday’s second-half was, according to the numbers, the worst half of the year.
The Celtics allowed 1.452 points per possession, which ranked 172nd of 174 halves this year. They scored 0.881 points per possession, which ranked 166th. Their net rating? .0571 points per possession, which ranked 174th of 174 halves played.
The final ugly numbers from the Game 5 2nd half.
Celtics allowed 1.452 points/possession That ranked 172nd of 174 halves this year
Celtics scored 0.881 points/possession That ranked 166th
Net rating of .0571 points/possession That ranked 174th
In other words, they played their worst basketball of the season at the absolute worst time, with the chance to put away a 76ers team that was fully healthy for the first time in months.
“Just got to be better,” Brown said. “Got to be better. It’s not always going to go your way, so just be able to handle that and respond with maturity, and be able to score the ball, make plays for others, etc., even when the rhythm is maybe not flowing in our direction. I feel like tonight, we had a chance to win and pull away. We were up 13, and we didn’t take advantage of it. So we’re all to blame. We’ve just got to watch it and respond and get better and move forward.”
But, the reality is that while fans can sulk about the loss for the next 48 hours, the Celtics have to turn the page. They’re still in control of the series, but Philadelphia is fully healthy and fresh off some of their best basketball of the year.
“Just take a deep breath, relax and get ready to go,” Brown said. “Just have the right mentality and come out and execute your job. No need to put any extra pressure on ourselves. It’s already enough of that as it is. So, just come out and play basketball and play the right way. I think that’s what our mindset is, and that’s what we’ve got to do going forward.”
The G.O.A.T. debate in pro basketball will never end, as most hoops experts have narrowed the list down to two players: Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
James was asked about the debate and Jordan's influence on his game.
"I never have compared myself to MJ because our games are totally different," James said to ESPN.com. "I have been a point-forward/forward-point my whole life. I have always looked for the pass. MJ kind of looked for the shot. Not kind of, he did. He looked for the shot.
"There are a lot of things where I would say my game is a lot different and a little better than his, but (expletive), he was (expletive) great. We're both great. We're both great basketball players."
The 41-year-old James is the league's all-time scoring leader, and ranks No. 1 in games played as well as being the active leader in rebounds, assists, and steals.
"There are a lot of things that MJ did better than I do," James said, "and I think there are some things that I do better than him. That's just how the game goes. There's a lot of things that I can say in particular. You already know how this conversation is going to be (misinterpreted) by people, man."
James and Jordan may be different basketball players, but they agree on the GOAT conversation overall.
Jordan weighed in on the topic in March, telling CBS News, "There's no such thing as G.O.A.T. To say that one is better than the other, it's not really right," while James called the debate a "very tiring conversation" and "barbershop talk."
"I think I am one of one. I think the way I play the game, I am a one-of-one player. And MJ, as well. A (expletive) unbelievable basketball player," James said. "I think his midrange jump shot was unbelievable. He did so many things great. I grew up (expletive) analyzing everything that he did, how he could get to his spot and rise up above everybody. Obviously, his post game was elite. His will to win. I think that is a trait that we all know and that we all wanted to be like. His determination to win."
The Chicago Blackhawks ended the season as the youngest in the National Hockey League. Part of that was because of the youth they had on their blue line after the trade deadline.
Chicago’s defense doesn’t have a front-runner to be the future number one guy, but there are a couple of guys in the mix. They are also deep when it comes to players under the age of 24 who are capable of making an impact right now.
Throughout the season, some veterans played big minutes before the deadline, allowing the youth to be eased in.
This is every defender who skated for Chicago at some point in 2025-26, graded against their expectations:
Louis Crevier: A
Coming into the season, nobody thought that Louis Crevier was going to be an everyday defenseman. Not only did he do that, but he was the most important every single night. Crevier ended up dressing in 78 games out of 82, which is excellent for a guy who came in as the seventh defenseman.
In those 78 games, Crevier had 7 goals and 18 assists for 25 points, which led all blue-liners on the team.
Creivier admitted that even he didn't expect this, but he will also work to continue getting better in all three zones while putting extra emphasis on being a steady defender. This might be the most unexpected A-grade for any player at any position, but he's firmly a part of the future now.
Artyom Levshunov: C
Artyom Levshunov might be the hardest player, at any position, to evaluate in the entire organization. He has all of the skills in the world, and he has put them on display a lot, but he also makes mistakes from time to time that simply can't happen.
He trailed Crevier by one point for the team lead with 10 fewer games played, but nobody would ever think that he was the best defender on the team this year.
In the final four games leading up to the Olympics, the Blackhawks put Levshunov on a development plan that held him out of the lineup without sending him down to the AHL. He simply had to work on his skills in practice with the big club.
Once he was inserted back into the lineup, he played much better. Overall, he gets a C-grade for his up-and-down season, but he has much loftier goals for 2026-27.
Alex Vlasic: C
Overall, Alex Vlasic had a tough year by his standards. He didn't get much power-play time, he wasn't a high-end player at even strength, and he left a lot to be desired by the end of the season.
The fact is, however, that you're a great player at the base if this is your "tough year". Vlasic only had two goals and 19 assists for 21 points in 81 games played, but his role isn't to produce points as much, and it may never be.
Vlasic gets a C-grade for simply being a solid player this year; he just doesn't get anything better because you can't say he took a step. Expect somewhat of a bounce-back in 2026-27 if the team around him is significantly better.
Wyatt Kaiser: A
Wyatt Kaiser, like Louis Crevier, was unexpectedly a top defenseman on the team. With the way he played this year, Kaiser might officially be a part of the long-term core. That gets you an A-grade alone.
He was sensational and may only get better. Kaiser didn’t get power play time, despite displaying some offensive skills from time to time, but he was used a lot as a top penalty killer on the team. Every winning team has a defender like Kaiser, who should be a staple on the blue line for a long time.
Sam Rinzel: C
Sam Rinzel did not have the season he wanted, and he would tell you that. When camp began, few players on the blue line had the same level of hype as he did.
The start of the season was rough for him, though, and eventually he had a stint in the AHL. Without ever complaining about it, the rookie took it in stride as an opportunity to develop further.
Eventually, he came back and stayed. There is still another level for him to get to, but the end of the season got him back up to a C-grade.
Connor Murphy: B
Connor Murphy was traded to the Edmonton Oilers at the deadline, which put an emphasis on how impactful he was as a Chicago Blackhawks defenseman over the years.
They never won like they wanted to with him, but he helped them transition from the former core to the new core. The interesting stat that floated around when he was traded was that he played for the Blackhawks longer than Marian Hossa.
As far as this season, he didn’t impress with big offensive numbers, but he was a steady contributor on a team that wasn’t going anywhere. The young kids, especially on defense, loved having him around as a mentor, so for that, he gets a B-grade.
Matt Grzelcyk: C
The Blackhawks brought Matt Grzelcyk in on a PTO during training camp, and he earned a spot as a veteran on the team. With a solid NHL tenure surrounded by some of the legends of the game, he was perfect for the young group.
He didn’t have a big offensive season, and his time in that type of role never truly existed the way it has for him in the past, but he gave an honest effort in every game he played.
Grzelcyk was in the lineup in almost every match until the end of the year when he got hurt. His future in the NHL is uncertain, but a C-grade is good for him this year, as that’s exactly what was expected of him.
Kevin Korchinski: C
Kevin Korchinski was drafted 7th overall, so the organization is being patient with him. He was brought in as an offensive-minded defenseman who may have some deficiencies in his own end, but the juice hasn’t been worth the squeeze in terms of point producing.
Other young players have passed him by at his biggest strength, so he has a hill to climb after only seeing constant NHL time in the final month.
Ethan Del Mastro: C
Ethan Del Mastro didn’t play with the NHL club as much as he would have hoped, but he did get a look towards the end of the season.
There are players ahead of him on the depth chart, but he is certainly a C-grade replacement option for the organization. Being so young, Del Mastro has time to develop into an everyday contributor, but he must keep working.
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With 18.5 percent of the season gone, the Cubs have emerged statistically as a Top 5 offense in baseball. Where they fall in that top five depends on which metrics you value most. The point is, this offense is pretty elite so far. It’s interesting, because there are still some very key bats that the Cubs haven’t gotten a ton out of. Two of those guys who haven’t been on top of their game so far both had clutch hits in the seventh inning to put this game out of reach. It was so comfortable that I was able to nap through the late innings and didn’t have to watch the Cub bullpen after Hoby Milner work. Of course, this means that Ryan Rolison still doesn’t actually exist to me.
Pete Crow-Armstrong has been slowly turning around his slow start to the season. After the first 10 games (ending with the first game in Tampa) his OPS bottomed out at .487. With his homer and walk in this one, he’s up to .637. That the Cubs are 14-6 over that stretch is probably not coincidental. I’m just not sure which one is the chicken and which one is the egg. He’s not tearing the world up over that stretch. But he’s contributing. He’s got both his homers, his only triple and two doubles in there. Over 82 plate appearances, the pop isn’t quite there. I always love good announcer timing and hat tip to Rick Sutcliffe on the broadcast saying just before the homer that taking his walks will lead to him getting more pitches he can drive.
Rick was on fire that inning. He also went way out on a limb and said that Alex Bregman was going to come through in a clutch spot as he pinch hit right in front of PCA. Unsurprisingly, Bregman has that same break in his season line. After 10 games, he was at an OPS of .544. Now he sits at .710. Alex did have two homers before that stretch, but all three of his doubles this season and his one triple are in that stretch. Again, not setting the world on fire. But he went the other way with a ball with two outs for an RBI single that kept the line moving and set the stage for PCA’s three-run homer.
On the other side, I’ll give shout outs to Edward Cabrera looking pretty solid again, falling one out shy of a quality start. Health alone would make Hoby Milner more useful than a lot of Cubs relievers so far, but his performance has been rock solid for this team. Ryan Rolison is slowly drifting out of novelty territory and into intriguing with his early success.
All in all, a very nice road win. The Cubs have now played 12 straight games with the last five of those being on the west coast against two of the three best teams in the NL to date, and they are 9-3. The Cubs have one to go, then an off day before some home games. It won’t get a ton easier, but Fangraphs at least preliminarily gives the Cubs a slight (or better) edge in every one of those seven games on the next homestand. After the off day, the Cubs have 10 straight scheduled for a total of 23 games in 24 days. It’s going to be wild when this team reaches the end of May and the easiest teams it has faced will have been the Phillies and Mets. Changing of the guard.
Three Positives:
PCA’s big night. A walk, a three-run homer and two runs scored.
Seiya Suzuki had two hits and a walk. He scored a run. He remains scorching hot.
Hoby Milner four up four down.
Game 30, April 28: Cubs 8, Padres 3 (18-12)
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Dansby Swanson (.194). 1-1, 2 RBI
Hero: Nico Hoerner (.175). 1-5, 2 RBI
Sidekick: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.142). 1-4, HR, BB, 3 RBI, 2 R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Matt Shaw (-.158). 0-4
Goat: Edward Cabrera (-.075). 5.2 IP, 25 BF, 6 H, BB, 3 ER, 7 K, HBP (W 2-0)
Kid: Moisés Ballesteros (-.075). 0-4, BB
WPA Play of the Game: With two outs in the sixth inning, Nico Hoerner batted with runners on second and third and the game tied at two. Nico doubled, driving in two runs. (.269)
*Padres Play of the Game: Luis Campusano batted with runners on first and second and two outs and the Padres down two. He singled, driving in a run and sending the other runner to third. (.148)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 29 Winner: Moisés Ballesteros received 129 of 137 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Nico Hoerner +9.5
Michael Conforto +7
Moisés Ballesteros +6
Jacob Webb/Pete Crow-Armstrong -9
Matt Shaw -10
Current Win Pace: 97.2
Up Next: At 3:10 p.m. CT, the third and final game in San Diego. Jameson Taillon (1-1, 4.55, 27.2 IP) gets his sixth start of the season. Last time out he started in Los Angeles and didn’t go so well. He allowed four runs on four hits and three walks in five innings. As is somewhat usual for a back of the rotation guy, he’s been up and down. He had a strong start, then a decent one, then a rough one, then a good one, then a rough one. So we can hope he’ll bounce back again.
29-year-old Matt Waldron (0-1, 12.46, 8.2 IP) makes his third start of the year for the Padres. Matt was an 18th round pick of the Indians in 2019 (550th overall). He allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks over five innings in his last start at Colorado. For his career, he is 8-16 with a 5.19 ERA in 38 appearances (35 starts). He’s never faced the Cubs in his career.
Hopefully the offense can keep rolling against Waldron and Taillon can keep them in the game. That just might get the Cubs one more win on this trip.
Apr 6, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter (24) has a conference at the mound during the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images | Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images
The news that Rob Thomson was fired was one that still had the shock effect from afar, but judging from the reporting done around the team, it was also a shock inside the team clubhouse. Watching the game being played on Tuesday, it looked and felt like one where the players had a bit of an extra hop to their step. Jesus Luzardo had a little extra giddy-up on his fastball, a little sweep on his sweeper. The hitters actually took better swings against a pitcher in Tyler Mahle that made them look rather foolish a few weeks ago. In his postgame interview, Trea Turner spoke about the heaviness of the day and how it had affected the players in the dugout.
With Thomson now gone and a new manager in Don Mattingly installed, the bright light of the spotlight has now been shifted away from the manager’s office. Some might like it to be pointed in the direction of Dave Dombrowski and that is fair. His assemblage of this roster is always up for debate, but now has a substantial amount of criticism following it with Thomson no longer there to share in the blame for his poor start to the season. To which I ask;
Did Thomson or Dombrowski come into this series against the Giants as the worst hitter in the game? No, Alec Bohm did.
Did Thomson or Dombrowski come into this series against the Giants as one of the worst defensive teams in the game? No, the regular defensive players did.
Did Thomson or Dombrowski come into this series against the Giants with an ERA that starts with a 6? No, Aaron Nola did.
Did Thomson or Dombrowski come into this series against the Giants with one of the worst OPS numbers as a group against left handed pitching? No, the lineup did.
I could go on and on, but the picture is clear – the responsibility for this move that was made by Dombrowski falls mostly on the players that performed as poorly as they did.
We will read over and over as the rawness of this move continues to show about how Thomson had not lost the clubhouse, how the players loved him or respected him, how they didn’t think his message had been lost. That’s all well and good, but the ultimate reason for Thomson’s firing is that the players stunk, plain and simple. Their lack of production on the field is why the team has seen one of its foundational pillars to their success now been toppled over.
We see this all the time, that the players feel bad that they got a manager fired, that they wished it hadn’t happened. That’s great! It’s nice to see players with genuine affection for the person in charge of their clubhouse. However, had they truly felt that bad, they’d have played better when the going got tough instead of rolling over and showing their belly each time the other team took a lead in a game.
The next few games are probably going to see the team pick up their play for the better. There has been talk of how they will see a bit of a lighter schedule, to which I saw what in the past few weeks has the team done to make you believe that the schedule was the issue at play. Maybe improved play is actual positive regression to the mean, maybe it’s a dead cat bounce. That’s for us to look at and analyze in the future. But for now, the spotlight just got a little brighter on the players in the clubhouse. Their poor play to start this season got their manager fired. Let’s see how they choose to respond.
The New York Yankees (20-10) continue their assault on the state of Texas with Game 3 of their series against the Rangers (14-16). Last night, Aaron Judge went yard last night for the 12th time this season and Cam Schlittler struck out eight over six shutout innings to earn his fourth win of the season. David Bednar struggled in the ninth to make it a bit of a sweat, but the Yankees won, 3-2 and are now 4-1 on their six-game swing through the Lone Star State.
Rookie right‑hander Elmer Rodríguez makes his MLB debut this afternoon for the Yankees after dominating Triple‑A with a 1.27 ERA. No question the rookie hopes the Yankees’ power surge continues. The Bronx Bombers have hit a major league-leading 48 home runs this season.
Texas, meanwhile, is trying to halt a three‑game home losing streak and at the same time salvage the final game of this series, but their starter, veteran Nathan Eovaldi, has allowed nine home runs already this season and his ERA is a fat 5.79 in just six starts. Offensively, Brandon Nimmo and Josh Jung have been two of the few bright spots for the Rangers. The Texas team batting average is just .235. Injuries across the roster—including Wyatt Langford, Jordan Montgomery, and multiple bullpen arms—have further complicated their efforts to get the season on track.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Rangers
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The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Rangers
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-120), Texas Rangers (+100)
Andrew McCutcheon was 0-2 last night and is just 3-30 (.100) in April / All 3 hits are singles
Corey Seagar has struck out 5 times in his last 8 plate appearances
Cody Bellinger picked up a hit last night to snap an 0-10 streak
Austin Wells went yard last night for the 3rd time this season
Aaron Judge has gone deep in three straight games
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Rangers
The Rangers are 8-8 at home this season
The Yankees are 12-5 on the road this season
The Yankees are 18-12 on the Run Line this season
The Rangers are 17-13 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 3 times in Texas’ last 11 games this season (3-8)
The OVER has cashed 4 times in the Yankees’ last 11 games this season (4-7)
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Cincinnati Reds fans who packed the stands for Tuesday night’s 7-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies were in for a surprise that delighted both their spirits and their taste buds – thanks to an ABS challenge.
This season, the Reds have teamed up with LaRosa’s Pizzeria for the popular "Strikeout for Slices" promotion. Whenever Reds pitchers combine for at least 11 strikeouts in a single game, every Reds fan in attendance scores a free pizza.
In the ninth inning, Reds reliever Brock Burke's pitch to Rockies batter Edouard Julien was initially called a ball, challenged and then overturned, the Reds’ 11th strikeout of the game. The stadium erupted in celebration, not just for the win, but for the cheesy reward awaiting every ticket holder.
The Reds have a promotion where fans win free pizza if the team gets 11 strikeouts in a game.
According to LaRosa’s Family Pizzeria, Reds fans in attendance the night of an 11-strikeout game can claim their prize the following day. By locating the unique 12-digit code on their ticket, either near the barcode or beneath the QR code, fans can enter it on the LaRosa’s website to instantly receive a coupon via email. The coupon is valid for a free small, one-topping pizza, which must be redeemed within seven days of the qualifying game.
Tuesday’s game marked the second time this season Reds fans have been treated to free pizza, with the first “Strikeout for Slices” giveaway coming after an 11-strikeout performance against the Detroit Tigers on April 26. As the season continues, fans will hope for more strikeout-filled nights and more slices to celebrate.
President of baseball operations Scott Harris has built the Detroit Tigers' top-heavy farm system around a few position player prospects. The group is headlined by American League Rookie of the Year favorite Kevin McGonigle, though he wasn't always the top-ranked prospect.
It used to be Clark.
While McGonigle is thriving with the Tigers, Clark – selected 34 picks before him in the 2023 draft, at No. 3 overall – has been continuing his development in Triple-A Toledo. He still seems projected for his MLB debut in 2026, but the Tigers aren't making any promises.
"We're not ready to bring him up right now," Harris said Tuesday, April 28, during an MLB Network interview with studio host Brian Kenny. "He's a really important part of our future. We took him first in my first draft, and then we took Kevin right behind him. Those remain two really important pieces for us moving forward."
"This group has learned through experience how to manage the highs and lows that our game has to offer."
Tigers President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris joins @MLBNetwork to talk McGonigle extension, ABS challenge philosophy and more. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Y9SS480WTg
Clark, a left-handed hitter, has a .305 batting average with one home run, 13 walks and 14 strikeouts in 24 games at the Triple-A level, registering an .834 OPS. He has logged all 198⅓ innings in center field, where he has called home for his entire career in the minor leagues.
He hit .377 with a 1.010 OPS in his first 17 games.
Since then?
He is hitting .115 with a .361 OPS in his past seven games.
"His ceiling is one that can put pressure on the opposing team in all phases of the game," Harris said. "He's certainly performing well offensively – that's a really big part. I think he's going to hit for more power as he gets more comfortable with his swing and his strike-zone decision-making.
"We also want to see him continue to develop the other areas of his game. He can be an elite center fielder. We're really focused on his jumps, his reads and getting off the ball quickly in center field. We also think he can put a lot of pressure on the opposing teams on the bases. We think there's more he can get there, and we're trying to stay focused on his leads, his fundamentals and his ability to read different types of pitchers and get a good jump."
Clark advanced from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie in July 2025.
In 2026, Clark has found success and failure upon joining Triple-A Toledo coming out of his first MLB spring training. He struggled in Grapefruit League play during camp, going 0-for-13 at the plate in his final eight games and making multiple defensive miscues in left and center field.
"We're focused on all those fundamentals and all phases of the game with Max," Harris said. "He's progressing really nicely, and we think he's going to really help us."
Max Clark crushes this ball for his first Triple-A homer. Left his bat at 108.4 MPH and went an estimated 414 feet. He’s 4-for-4 tonight, and Toledo leads 5-1. pic.twitter.com/Lv5FxpiQ0Z
"I think there's a really good chance that he ends up helping us, but it's premature to actually forecast when that's going to happen," Harris said. "We just want to keep him focused where his feet are – and that's in Toledo right now. We've got to keep getting better before we can have that conversation."
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 27: Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons and Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic looks on during the game during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The clock is ticking on the Detroit Pistons’ 2025-26 season much earlier than anticipated. Detroit faces elimination against an imposing Orlando Magic defense and, frankly, the Pistons’ nonchalance and self-immolation. Fun fact: the Pistons are holding Orlando to the worst field goal percentage in the NBA Playoffs and averaging nearly four more blocks per game than the next closest team. Detroit’s problem is that its field goal percentage is fourth-worst, and they are combining that poor shooting with 18.3 turnovers per game. If Detroit could get out of its own way and hit a few shots, they’d be the team up 3-1. Do I have confidence they can reverse those trends? Not really.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: Prime Video Odds: Pistons -9.5
Analysis
Look, you have to start Jalen Duren to see if he can finally break out of his offensive funk. But if he struggles again with positioning, penetration, turnovers, and general ineffectiveness, you have to pull him and pull him quickly. Detroit is out of time trying to be cute or deferential to the guys who brought them to the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Because they are about to be the No. 1 seed in the playoffs that got bounced in the first round.
Cade Cunningham must get a handle on his handle and turn the corner on his penchant for careless turnovers. If Cunningham performs like has been and also cuts his turnovers by half, Detroit probably wins this game comfortably. That’s how slim the margins have been despite each feeling like such crushing defeats because Detroit is playing so far below the standard they’ve set for themselves all season.
Three positive signs for Detroit that I’ll cling to as I strap in for game 5: 1. The Pistons are playing in the frinedly confines of Little Caesars Arena. This crowd is just looking for something to cheer their heads off for, and the Pistons simply need to deliver. 2. Franz Wagner, who has played very well on both ends as a beefy wing who is adept at slowing down both Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren will at least be limited and might even sit out tonight’s game with a calf strain 3. Isaiah Stewart is playing out of his mind on the defensive end so if you sit Duren, you can be confident in his backup.
Does that mean I think the Pistons will win tonight? For me, it’s almost immaterial. The Pistons have shown in these playoffs what they are and, more importantly, what they are not. What they are not is a team that can challenge the best teams in the East for the right to go to the NBA Finals. That’s not too different than the POV I had entering the playoffs so the best I can say is that it should be an interesting offseason. A first-round win at least represents marginal progress from last year and gets yet another long-running streak off their ledger. It’d be nice. I’m rooting for nice and expecting … not that.
"My theory is his title — should this happen, and they're trying to make it happen — is going to be vice president of hockey operations, that's my theory," Friedman reported. "It took some time, and it took some convincing, but I think they're now actually negotiating with him to do it."
Sundin has been around the Maple Leafs more often over the last few years, ever since the club went to Stockholm, Sweden, for the NHL's Global Series in Nov. 2023. The 55-year-old was a guest at Maple Leafs training camp in the fall of 2024 and returned to Toronto when Auston Matthews broke his franchise goals record in January.
According to Friedman, Sundin wasn't brought in through the search firm, which the Maple Leafs hired for the head of hockey operations search. Potential candidates were also reportedly asked about the potential of working with Sundin, Friedman said.
The Maple Leafs began the search for a new head of hockey ops after firing general manager Brad Treliving on Mar. 30. MLSE (Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment) president and CEO Keith Pelley said the next hire would have to be data-centric.
Pelley and co. have been going through the interview process over the last few weeks, and by the sounds of it, if Sundin takes a role within the club, there's only one person fit to become Toronto's next GM.
"I think that's come down to John Chayka and Scott White," said Friedman, "and if Sundin does take the job, I think it's going to be Chayka (as the GM of the Maple Leafs). If something happens here, and it doesn't occur, I don't know where this is all going to go. I don't know what the backup plan is.
"But as it stands right now, I'm under the impression that it's going to be Sundin and Chayka, and they just have to close the deal. Nothing is done until it's done. But that's what I believe is going on."
Friedman added that bringing Sundin in will also help restore what it means to wear the Maple Leafs' crest. He said that many in the organization felt "that the pride in wearing the jersey had fallen."
The Maple Leafs finished second-last in the Eastern Conference and fifth-last in the NHL, missing the postseason for the first time since 2016. Because of where they finished in the standings, though, they could have a shot at a top-five draft pick.
The NHL Draft Lottery goes down on May 5, and the Maple Leafs have an 8.5 percent chance of landing the first overall pick. Let's see if Toronto makes any management hires before then.
,” tennis star Jessica Pegula, the daughter of Sabres owner Terry Pegula, wrote on X in response to video of the moment, using a heart-hands emoji to indicate she knows the song by heart.
Vasilevskiy Over 22.5 saves
Drysdale Over 1.5 shots on goal
Sergachev Over 1.5 shots on goal
